‘Alternate’ vs. ‘Alternative’

For all intents and purposes, alternate And replace is synonymous. Both words date to the mid-16th century, and both describe a different choice from what was first suggested: an alternative perspective; an alternative suggestion.

replace instead

Commentators on usage often insist that ‘alternative’ should be used to mean ‘turn to happen or succeed’ and ‘alternative’ to mean ‘to give or present a choice. ” But in many cases where there is a choice, ‘alternative’ is a viable alternative.

However, commentators on usage often emphasize one difference: one should use alternate means “to happen or succeed in turn” and replace means “to offer or demonstrate a choice.” However, looking at how these words are used makes it clear that things are not so simple.

Yes, the use of alternate means well-established “turn-based success”:

ABOVE alternate within a few weeks, Willa Frank gave way to another frequent critic of the newspaper, a grateful, kind-hearted woman named Leonora Mergenser… -T. Coraghessan Boyle, Harper’sOctober 1987

After being shifted to the right at the top of the loop, we start the loop counterclockwise. Coal trains are so heavy that they are routed through the inner loop alternate direction, to distribute attacks on the track. —John McPhee, New YorkersOctober 10, 2005

Solid materials such as metal are placed on top, heated, and then transferred to the surfaces being patterned. Because alternate Heating and cooling the tip, the deposition of the material can be precisely controlled. —Anne Eisenberg, New York TimesSeptember 23, 2004

However, “turn-based success” seems to be the original meaning of replace also. One of the earliest uses occurs in a 17th-century poem, probably due to the need for the extra syllable:

That happiness still grows the longestWhere Joye and Sorrow have a cross Replace. —Robert Herrick, Hesperides1648

Although we still see the use of replace in the sense of “successful turn”, most modern examples are found in British publications:

To reduce emissions, cars with even and odd number plates will only be able to run on replace the day begins July 20. –Jonathan Watts, guardJuly 12, 2008

While you are less likely to see replace used to mean “success in turn” in American English, alternate commonly used to mean “offering or demonstrating a choice.” There are established uses for both that we often come across: a director’s shot can have a alternate end; A traffic update warns drivers to look for a alternate route.

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However, many examples use the word simply to mean “make a choice beyond what is traditional or expected”:

She was raised to know everything, to appreciate fine distinctions, and to be able to see a alternate the future is still doable even at the age of thirty-four. —Richard Ford, Harper’sJune 2012

Of course, the texts are useless if they are incorrect. And local health clinics are reluctant to report gaps in service. So the system has a alternate data flow: community resources. —Belinda Luscombe, TimeAugust 27, 2012

But in the face of organized and passionate public resistance, that support collapsed. Portland leaders, including a charismatic young mayor named Neil Goldschmidt, proposed a alternate plan. Transfer that money, at least in part, to this emerging railroad renaissance, specifically the 15-mile light rail line from downtown Portland to the eastern suburbs of Gresham.—Ben Wear. , Austin Chinese AmericansAugust 10, 2014

Replace actually works for all these situations too:

Social media like Twitter, YouTube and Facebook have proven tools like replace news source and as a way for protesters to vent their frustrations, leading to security services shutting down YouTube for two months and Twitter for two weeks. —Sebnem Arsu, New York TimesJanuary 4, 2015

After Hydra’s maritime power declined in the 19th century, it turned to sponge fishing as a replace income. —Lawrence Osborne, New York Times Style MagazineMarch 23, 2014

Alike alternate, replace there are instances of it, instead of alternate, is overwhelmingly preferred. In particular, it often implies the type of option that can be considered separate from mainstream traditions: homeowners may seek a replace energy source, such as solar energy, rather than a more standard option like oil or natural gas. Replace Medicine that seeks to provide remedies is not considered part of traditional medical wisdom. ONE replace The weekly newspaper may include aspects of the city’s culture that its main newspaper ignores, and replace music created to depict a style of rock influenced by other genres and not usually broadcast on popular radio stations.

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In these cases, replace is the word to use: people will look at you strangely if you mention “alternative medicine”, just as your book club is less likely to meet on “alternative Tuesday”. But in many cases involving choice, alternate is a viable alternative.

Categories: Usage Notes
Source: vothisaucamau.edu.vn

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